Can washer



Oct. 12 1926; I

v O. H. HANSEN CAN WASHER Filed June 19, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I NVE N TIER- (flfi/ ATTEJRNE CAN WASHER 3 Sheets-Sh 5 Filed June 19, 1920 Patented Oct. 12, 1926. i

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSWALD H. HANSEN, OF PORT WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO HANSEN CANNING MACHINERY CORPORATION, A. COR- PORA'IION OF WISCONSIN.

. can WASHER.

Application filed June 19, 1920. Serial No. 390,148.

This invention relates in general to improvements in the art of cleansing receptacles. and relates specifically to an improved method of and apparatus for automatically washing and sterilizing ,the interiors of metal cans prior to filling thereof with edible substances.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient method of automatically washing and sterilizingthe interiors of re ceptacles, in succession. Another object of the invention is to provide simple and eflicient apparatus for automatically cleansing the interiors of successive receptacles while being advanced in series through the machine.

Some of the more jects of the present invention are as follows To-provide a method of automatically and thoroughly washing the interiors o t metal cans by introducing therein whirling sprays of fluent cleanser such as steam or hot water, and without the aid ofa mechanical scrubber such as a brush.

To provide simple means for automatically producing and delivering whirling sprays of fluent cleanser against the interiors and into the corners of successive cans as they are advanced in series through a suitable chamber.

To provide for rotation of the cans on their own axes during washing thereby insuring cleansing of all parts of the cans.-

To provide a can washer in which each can is subjected to the cleansing action of jets of wet and dry steam in succession, and in which the steam consumption is reduced to a minimum.

To provide. a machine which delivers the cans in dry condition, and in which undesirable precipitation of excessive quantities of water through the can chutes and from the machine, is positively prevented.

To provide a steam washer in which the use ofstufling boxes and other elements reqgiring attention and adjustment, is avoide To'provide a can washer operable and controllable in conjunction with any standard can filling machine and associable' with line shafts and can chutes disposed at any angle.

To provide a can washer dr1ve which w ll important specific obautomatically start and stop the mechanism in accordance with like operations of the filling machine to whichthe washed cans are delivered.

To provide a mechanism which may be readily inspected, dismantled and assembled, without disturbing the can chutes leading to and from the washer.

To provide a can washer in which injury to the cans is avoided and in which the cans are held in suspension by the fluid jets while being gently guided from one compartment to another and delivered from the machine.

To provide other details of improved construction of can Washers whereby the cost of manufacture and of operation is reduced to a minimum and the efiiciency is increased to a maximum.

A clear conception of the novel method and of one embodiment ofapparatus for exploiting the same, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming partof this specification in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

. Fig. 1 is an end elevationpf'a can washing machine looking in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the casing cover, the cover being removed from the machine.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the can washer and steam. separator, the section being taken through the discharge or. drying chamber of the washer.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged central vertical sec- Fig. 6 is an enlarged central vertical section through one of the fluid distributing headers or valves.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse vertical section through one of the distributing headers. or valves, the cross-sectionbeing taken along the line VIIVII of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a top view of the vapor exhaust chamber casing and of the adjustable drive shaft supporting bracket supported by the v casing.

' nected in any suitable manner.

The specific form of the can washer disclosed in the drawings and embodying the present invention, comprises in general a main casing 2 forming a pair of contiguous transporting rotor 6, 56 adapted tobe rotated by each spider 5, a hinged cover-7 for permitting access to the interiors of the.

chambers, a steam separator 8 having connections leadingto each feed valve 3, and suitable driving mechanism for communicating rotary motion tothe spiders 5 and the rotors 6, 56. i

The initial washing chamber formed in the casing 2 is located with its axis some what below that of the final washing and drying chamber. The wall of the casing 2 adjacent to the peripheries of the two chambers, forms can guiding tracks which guide the cans 9 along a definite course of shape. The initial washing chamber is provided at its upper extremity with a can inlet 55 to which the can supply chute may be con- The lower extremity of the initial washing chamber which is also the lowermost portion of the casing 2 is provided with a condensate exhaust pipe or drain 57. The final washing and drying chamber is provided at its lower extremity with a can discharge 15 to which the can discharge chute leading to the can filling machines,-may be connected in any suitable manner. The upper extremity of the drying chamber which is also the uppermost portion of the casing 2, commun1cates with a vapor collecting chamber 38 having a vapor exhaust 39.

The two steam headers or feed valves 3 which are located centrally within the washing chambers, are of like construction as shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7. These valves 3 are rigidly attached to the front wall of the casing 2 and hate their axes inclined as shown in Fig. 2. Each of the valves 3 comprises a hollow body having an interior chamber 47, an annular peripheral outer recess, and four. steam ports 48, 49 connecting the chamber 47 with the outer recess. The ports 48, 49 are of sufficient area to insure proper supply of steam to the s iders 5, and the valves 3 are so constructed t lat all pressures thereon are balanced. The valve 3 located within the initial washing chamber is so positioned that no steam is delivered to the adjacent spider arms while passing the can inlet 55.

.The two steam distributing spiders 5 which are rotatably supported upon the inclined valves 3, are of like construction but are rotatable in opposite directions as indicated by arrows in Fig. 1. Each of the spiders 5 comprises a hub and. a series of eight hollow arms radiating from the hub and communicable at predetermined intervals with the annular peripheral outer recesses of the valves 3. The outer end ofeach spider arm is closed by means of a plug and is provided with a transverse opening extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the spider 5, see Fig. 3. Within each of these transverse openings is located a spray nozzle 16 having a central orifice .66 and a seires of tangential or inclined orifices 67,

see Figs. 3 and 4. The central orifices 66 of all of-the nozzles 16 are substantially parallel to each other and to the axes of the valves 3, and are adapted to deliver jets of cleansing fluid-approximately coaxially of the ca.ns"9.'- The tangential orifices 67 of each nozzle 16 are inclined at different angles and are ada ted to deliver tangential The two can transporting rotors 6, 56 are mounted upon and secured to the hubs of the spiders 5 being drivingly associated with these hubs by means of pins 11 secured to the spider hubs and fitting openings in the rotors 6, 56. Each of the rotors 6, 56 comprises a central body portion and a series of eight can hooks radiating from the body portion. The can hooks are so spaced and positioned that the cans 9 engaged thereby will be located approximately in line with the adjacent nozzles 16 on the spiders 5.

The hinged cover 7 shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 5, coacts with a plane rear surface of the casing 2 and has lugs 71 which coact with and are pivotally connected to the lugs 60 on the casing 2. The cover 7 may be clamped in closed position by means of a transverse bar or clamp 68 having hooked ends adapted to engage bolts inserted in the bosses 58, 59 of the casing ,2. This clamp 68 is pivotally connected at its medial portion, to the cover 7. The cover 7 may be opened Without interfering with the can chutes which are associated with the inlet 55 and the discharge 15 of the casing 2. The interior of the cover 7 is provided with la can guide 69 located in close proximity to the rear surface of the can transporting rotor 56 and adapted to engage the ends of the cans 9 and to gently transfer the successive cans from the rotor 56 to the rotor 6. A second can guide 70 which is also attached to the cover 7, is located in close proximity to the rear surface of the can transporting rotor 6 and is adapted to engage-the ends of the s essive cans 9 and to de e the water of condensation collectin on the inner wall of the cover 7 is collected y the gutters or troughs 40, 41, 42, 43 and is drained into the initla'l washing chamber'of the casing 2, being thereby prevented from flowing down the can discharge 15. Water of condensation which accumulates in the bottom of the final washing anddrying chamber, is collected ih the gutters 44, 61 and is delivered through an opening into the lower portion of the initial washing chamber, being thereby prevented from flowing down the can discharge 15. It will be noted that'due to the inclination of the washingchambers and of the cans 0, any water delivered from the cans 9 in the drying chamber will be precipitated into the gutter 61 which is below the can openin s.

lhe steam separator 8 which is shown in Fig. 2, comprises a casing formin a chamher the upper portion of which is divided by means of a wall 53. The live steam is admittedthrough a pipe 17 and valve 52 to the space at the left of the wall 53. Upon strikmg the wall 53, the moisture contained in the admitted steam is deflected downwardly toward the basin 54, while the dry steam passes upwardly and over thehood at the top of the wall 53., The portion of the steam which flows around the bottom of the wall 53 collects moisture from the basin 54 and is delivered from the separator 8 through the pipe 13 and valve 51, to the valve 3 of the initial washing chamber of the casing 2. The. dry steam as'sing over the wall 53 is delivered from-t e separator 8 through the pipe 12 and valve 50, to the valve 3 of the dr ing chamber of the casing 2. It will be obvious that if insufficient moisture is contained in the steam admitted through the pi e 17, moisture may be added to the steam adinitted to the initial washing chamber at the elbow in the pipe 13. The valves 50, 51, 52 permit regulation of the amounts of steam admitted to the several chambers and are also adapted to completely cut off the steam su ply.

has

The driving mec ianism' for imparting rotary motion to the s iders 5 and the rotors '6, 56 comprises a Eu belted to any suita le that which drives the can filling machines.

The pulley 31 has a central webfrictionally en aged on one side by a clutch element 29 rigidly attached to the main drive shaft 26, and frictionally engaged on the other side b a similar clutch element 30 slidablv assoclated with the main shaft 26. The element 30 is splined upon the shaft 26 and. is urged ey 31 adapted to line shaft, preferably" toward the web of the pulley 31 by means of a compression spring 32 which reacts a ainst an ad ustable collar 33-having screw thread coaction with the main shaft 26. The main shaft 26 is mounted in bearin s '27, 28 formed on the swingably adjustab e bracket 10, see Figs. 1, 2 and 8. The forward end of the shaft 26 is provided with a bevel'gear 25 which meshes with a bevel gear 24 se- I cured to the upper end of the vertical driving and pivot shaft 21. The shaft 21 engages an upper bearing 23 formed integral with the bracket 10, and a lower bearing 22 formed integral with the main casin 2. The lower end of the shaft 21 is provided with a bevel gear 20 which meshes with a bevel gear, 19 secured to one endof the counter shaft 18. The counter shaft 18 -is supported in a bearing formed integral with the main casin 2 and has a pinion 14 secured to its enii 38. The pinion 14 meshes with a spur gear 4 secured to the spider 5 within the drying chamber. This spur gear 4 meshes with a similar spur gear secured to the spider 5 located within the initial washing chamber, thereby completing the drive from the pulley 31 to the spiders The bracket 10 is provided with a base 34 which rests upon inner and outer quadrants or segments 36, 37 respectively, formed integral with the casing 2. The segments 36, 37 are provided with equally spaced threaded openings 64, 63 adapted to receive clamping cap screws 35 which coact with structure is provided with suitable grease cu s for luhrleat ion.

uring the. normal operation of the washer, power is applied to the pulley 31,

within the vapor chamber" formed integral with the casing 2. The.

lid

thereb producing rotation of the spiders 5 and o the transporting elements 56, 6 in the directions indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1.

The cans 9 are delivered by gravity in succession through the can inlet 55, to the upper portion of the rotor 56. The can hooks of the rotor 56 enga e and gently slide the successive Cams 9 a on the peripheral wall of the initial washing chamber. As the cans 9 are advanced around this chamber, moist steam is delivered from the steam separator 8 through the pi e 13 and valve 51 to the lower valve 3. T e initial chamber valve 3 delivers the moist steam to the arms of the ja ent' pi er 5 from which the steam is delivered through-the nozzles 16 to the interiors of the advancing cans '9. As the jets by efiectlng uniform cleansing.

Upon reaching a point substantially horizontally of the axis of the second transporting rotor 6, the cans 9 are engaged and automatically lifted away from the can hooks of the rotor 56, by the can guide 69 associated with the cover 7. During this lifting of the cans 9 away from the rotor 56, the can hooks of the rotor 6 advance and gradually engage the cans. slide the successive cans 9 along the peripheral wall of the'final washing and drying chamber. As the cans 9 are advanced around this chamber dry steam is delivered from the steam separator 8 through the pipe 12 and valve to the upper valve 3. The drying chamber valve 3 delivers the dry steamto the arms of the adjacent spider 5 from which the steam is delivered through the nozzles 16 to the interiors of the advancing cans 9. As the jets of dry steam discharge from the inclined nozzle orifices 67 strike'the interior surfaces of the cans 9 at an angle, and due to the free suspension of the cans, the cans 9 are caused to rotate about their own axes, thereby thoroughly cleansing and finally drying them. The

i finally cleansed and dried cans 9 are engaged by the can guide associated with the cover 7' and are delivered from the washer through he can discharge 15.

It will thus be noted that thesuccessive cans 9 passing through the machine are first subjected to the washing action of the moist steam in the initial washing chamber, and are subsequently finally cleansed and dried in the drying chamber. Thorough cleansing of all portions of the cans 9 is insured by the automatic rotation of the cans about their own axes due to the injection of whirling ets or sprays of cleansing fluid. Each of the cans 9 is given like treatment and 'no steam is delivered to the'machine without being utilized to cleanse the cans.

The troughs and gutters formed on the cover 7 and easing 2 effectively convey all water of condensation from the washing chambers to the drain pipe 57. The inclined disposition of the washing chambers also insures rapid drainage of the cans, thereby positively preventing precipitation of excessive quantities of water from the machine.

The elements are so constructed and assem-- of the mechanism from line shafts disposed The can hooks of the rotor 6 then.

at various angles, and the friction drive associated with the pulley 31 prevents break- .mantling and assembly of the inner washer structure without disturbing the can chutes leading to and from the washer. The rotors 6, 56 and the guides 69, 7O gently transport and guide the cans 9 through the washer without injuring them. The rotation of the cans 9 about their own axes also aids in preventing jamming of the cans and consequent damage thereof.

Itshould be understoodthat it is not desired to limit the invention to' the exact steps of the process and to the exact details of construction herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a can washer, means forming a pair of cont guous chambers, means for advancing cans .in succession and in opposite directions about the axes of said chambers, means for delivering the cans into the upper portion of one of said chambers, and means for delivering said cans from a lower portion of the other of said chambers.

2. In a can washer, means forming a pair of contiguouschambers, means for advancing cans in succession and in opposite directions about the axes of said chambers, means for delivering the cans into the upper portion of one of said chambers, means for positively transferring the cans from one of said chambers to the other, and means for delivering said cans from a lower portion of the other of said chambers.

3. In a can washer, a casing forming a pair of contiguous substantially cylindrical chambers having inclined axes, a rotor for advancing cans in succession about the axis of one of said chambers, a stationary guide for positively transferring said cans from one of said chambers to the other, and a rotor for advancing said cans in succession about the axis of said other chamber.

41 In a ,can washer, means forming a pair of contiguous chambers, a can inlet chute communicating with one of said chambers, a can discharge chute communicating with the other of said chambers, and a single cover for permitting access to all portions of said chambers without disturbing said chutes.

5. In a can washer,,a casing forming a pair of contiguous chambers, means associated with the lowest portion of said casing forv removing water from said chambers, a single cover for permitting access to both of said chambers, means on. said c ver for collecting water, and means for conveying water collectedby said means'toward said water'removing means.

6. In a can washcr,'mcans forming a pair of contiguous chambers having parallelinclined axes, a stationary valve member located coaxial with each of said chambers, a spider rotatabl associated with each of said valve mem ers, and a can transporting rotor secured to each .ofsaid spiders.

7. In a can washer, a casing forming achambers, a steam separator formedto separate-the moist from the dry steam ad mitted thereto,'means for admitting steam to said separator, means for delivering the moist steam from said separator to .one of said washing chambers, and means for delivering the dry steam from said separator to the other of said chambers.

9. In a can washer, a pair of can washing chambers, a steam separator formed to separate the moist from the dry steam admit-' ted thereto, means for admitting steam to said separator, means for delivering moist steam only from said separator to one of said chambers, means for delivering dry steam only from said separator to the other ofsaid chambers, and means for trans ortisng cans successively through said c amers.

10. ,In a can washer, a stationary support having transverse axially staggered ports communicating with a single fluid supply chamber formed within said support, and a fluid distributing spider rotatable about said support, said splder having hollow distributing arms formed to intermittently receive fluid from said chamber through some of said ports only, and aportion of said spider being s aced from said support to forma counter alancing chamber adapted to receive fluid from said supply chamber through other of said ports;

11. In a can washer, means for simultaneously rotating a plurality of cans about parallel axes which are inc ined upwardly and for subjecting said cans to the washing action of moist cleansing medium, and means for subsequently subjecting the rotating inclined cans'to the drying action of relatively dry cleansing medium. 1

12. Ina can washer, means for-simultaneously rotating an annular serles of cans for revolving said series about a common central axis while subjecting said cans to the washing action of jets of moist steam delivered against the interior of said cans, and means for subsequently subjecting the rotating inclined cans to the drying action of jets of relatively dry steam.

13. In a can washer, a casing forming a chamber having an inclined axis, means for supporting cans on their sides and for transporting said cans through said casing, a stationary valve member located coaxially within said chamber, and a spider for delivering cleansing fluid to said cans, said spider being rotatably associated with said vah'e member and being freely endwise removable therefrom, and said can supporting and transporting means being drivingly connect-ed to said spider. I

14. In a can washer, means forming a pair of contiguous chambers having parallel inclined axes, means for supporting cans on their sides with their axes parallel to said chamber axes and for. transporting said cans through said chambers, a stationary valve member projecting coaxially within each of said chambers, a fluid distributing spider rotatably associated with each of said valve members and with cans carried by said supporting means, and means for simul taneously rotating said supporting means.

and said spider. v

15. In a can washer, means forming a pair of contiguous substantially circular chambers having parallel inclined axes, means for supporting a series of cans on their sides with their axes parallel to said chamber axes and for transporting said cans through said chambers, a stationary annular fluid distributing valve projecting centrally into each of said chambers, and a fluid (listributing spider rotatably supported upon each of said valve members and adapted to deliver fluid into cans being transported by said supporting means.

16. In a can washer, a casing forming a circular chamber having an inclined axis, means for sup, orting a series of cans on their sides wit their axes parallel to the axis of said casing and for transporting said cans through said chamber, and means movable simultaneously with said supporting means for delivering. cleansing fluid into .the interiors of successive cans of said series.

17. In a can washer, a casing forming'a washing chamber, can transporting means for urging cans in succession through said chamber, a rotary transmission shaft drivingly associated with said transporting means and supported in fixed bearings secured to said casing, a rotary driving shaft extending radially relative to said transmission shaft and supported in bearings movably associated with said casing, bevel ill) in succession through said chamber, a rotary transmission shaft supported in bearings fixedly associated withsaid casing, gearing connecting said shaft and said rotor, a rotary driving shaft extending radially relative to said transmission shaft and supported in bearings slidably associated with said casing, bevel gearing for transmitting" .rotary motion from said driving shaft to said transmission shaft, and means for effecting simultaneous adjustment of said driving shaft and its bearings about the axis of said transmission shaft as a pivot.

19. In a can washer, means forming a pair of contiguous chambers having parallel central axes, means for admitting cans to one of said chambers above the axis thereof, means for advancing the cans through said chamber and around the said axis in one direction, means for subsequently advancing the cans through the other of said chambers and around the axis thereof in the opposite direction, and means for discharging the cans from said other chamber below the axis thereof.

20. In a can washer, means forming a pair of contiguous chambers having central axes located at different elevations, means for admitting cans to the chamber having the lower axis at a point above said axis, means for advancing the cans through said chamber and around said lower axis in one direction, means for subsequently advancing the cans through the other of said chambers and around the upper of said axes in the opposite cans from said other chamber below said upper axis.

21. 1A; a can washer, means forming a pair of contiguous annular chambers, means for admitting cans downwardly into one of said chambers, means for advancing the cans orbitally through said chamber in one direction and for discharging the cans up wardly into the other of said chambers, means for subsequently advancing the cans orbitally through said other chamber in the opposite direction, and means for discharging the cans downwardly from said other chamber.

22. In a can washer, means forming a pair of contiguous chambers, means for advancing cans in succession through said chambers, means cooperable with said advancing means to transfer the successive cans from one of said chambers to the other, and means for'simultaneously subjecting the interiors of the successive cans to the action of independent jets of moist cleansing medium and of relatively dry steam while being transferred from chamber to chamber.

23. The method of washing cans which comprises, advancing cans in succession through adjoining orbits, subjecting the interiors of the cans to the Washing action of jets of moist cleansing medium while traveling through one orbit, subsequently subjecting the interiors of the cans to the action of independent jets of moist cleansing medium and of relatively dry steam while passing from one orbit to the other, and finally subjecting the interiors of the cans to the action of jets of relatively dry steam while traveling through the other orbit.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is affixed hereto.

OSWALD H. HANSEN. 

